Alert archive / Alaska / Areal Flood Warnings in 2021

Areal Flood Warning 2, NWS Fairbanks, AK

May 24, 2021

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this areal flood warning at May 24, 2021, 6:15 AM AKDT. It took effect at May 24, 2021, 6:25 AM AKDT. It was in force for 5 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
May 24, 2021, 6:15 AM AKDT (14:15 UTC)
In effect from
May 24, 2021, 6:25 AM AKDT
Expired
May 24, 2021, 11:47 AM AKDT
In force
5 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

The nearest sounding before it

Point Barrow, (PBRW), launched 12:00Z, 2.3 hours before the alert went out and 386 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Point Barrow, at 12:00Z on 2021-05-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Point Barrow, at 12:00Z on 2021-05-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 34 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
2 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
541 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
34 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
43 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

568 
WGAK49 PAFG 241425
FLWAFG

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Flood Warning
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
615 AM AKDT Mon May 24 2021

AKZ206-261415-
/O.NEW.PAFG.FA.W.0002.210524T1425Z-210526T1415Z/
/00000.0.IJ.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Northeastern Brooks Range-
615 AM AKDT Mon May 24 2021

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has issued a

* Flood Warning for...
  An Ice Jam...on the Sagavanirktok (Sag) River near Pump Station #3.

* Until 615 AM AKDT Wednesday.

* At 615 AM AKDT, reporting gauges indicate minor flooding is 
  occuring due to an ice jam near Pump station #3. Water levels are 
  expected to remain high and fluctuate up and down until the 
  downstream ice jam clears. 

* Flooding in the area could impact travel along the Dalton Highway.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

&&

LAT...LON 6927 14860 6884 14873 6884 14897 6928 14892

$$

RZ
1 follow-up statement
106 
WGAK89 PAFG 241949
FLSAFG

Flood Statement
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
1147 AM AKDT Mon May 24 2021

AKZ206-241957-
/O.CAN.PAFG.FA.W.0002.000000T0000Z-210526T1415Z/
/00000.0.IJ.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Northeastern Brooks Range-
1147 AM AKDT Mon May 24 2021

...THE FLOOD WARNING FOR AN ICE JAM HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR the 
Sagavanirktok (Sag) River near Pump Station #3...

Flood waters have receded, and are no longer expected to pose a
threat to life or property. Please continue to heed any road
closures.

LAT...LON 6927 14860 6884 14873 6884 14897 6928 14892

$$

SDB

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this areal flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Fairbanks, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this areal flood warning went out at May 24, 4:07 AM AKDT, 2 hours 8 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 24, 4:07 AM AKDT, 2 hours 8 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
407 AM AKDT Mon May 24 2021

.SYNOPSIS...
Excellent weather to start the week for areas south of the Brooks
Range with mostly clear skies and highs in the 60s or 70s. This
will continue through Wednesday, except for southeast of Delta
Junction where there could be a few afternoon showers and
thunderstorms on Tuesday and Wednesday. Up on the Arctic Coast,
areas of low stratus and fog will stick around through Wednesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Upper Levels and Analysis...
An upper level ridge from over the Pacific is currently building
north across Western Alaska, leading to generally quiet weather
across the area. The ridge is surrounded by three low complexes,
one over the eastern Gulf of Alaska, another in the high Arctic,
and the third is a stacked low in the southern Bering Sea. Models
initialized well with these features, and are in good agreement on
how they will progress through Wednesday. By this afternoon, the
ridge will begin to close off and center over the West Coast,
leading to mostly clear skies and warm temperatures for areas
south of the Brooks Range. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the ridge
will remain in place, but gradually weaken as the low in the high
Arctic sends multiple shortwaves across the North Slope and into
the Interior. This will lead to some rain or snow showers for the
Eastern Arctic and far Eastern Interior, but otherwise quiet and
warm weather is expected in Northern Alaska.

Central and Eastern Interior...
Beautiful weather on tap for most of the area through Wednesday
under mostly clear skies. The exception will be south and east of
Delta Junction where there is a slight chance for afternoon
showers or thunderstorms on Tuesday and Wednesday. Highs across
the area will generally be in the upper 60s to low 70s, with lows
in the upper 30s to low 40s.

Arctic Coast and Brooks Range...
Most of the Arctic Coast is covered with low stratus and fog or
flurries, which will stick around through tonight, but become
patchier by Wednesday. For the Brooks Range, skies will remain
partly cloudy through Wednesday, with slight chances for light
rain or snow east of the Dalton Highway. Temperatures across the
area will be around normal with highs in the 30s, and lows in the
20s.

West Coast and Western Interior...
Mostly clear skies, warmer than normal temperatures, and offshore
flow will be the story for the next few days across the area,
except for on St Lawrence Island where stratus will be around at
times. Wednesday, there will be a chance for rain along the Yukon
Delta and on St Lawrence Island as a weak front moves up into the
area. Overall, expect highs in the low 70s inland and the mid 60s
along the coast, with lows in the upper 30s to low 40s, through
Wednesday.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None.

Extended Forecast Days 4 to 7...
Models are in poor agreement on the details of how the pattern
will evolve from Wednesday night through Saturday, but generally
show a trend towards cooler and wetter weather over the eastern
half of Northern Alaska, while the western half would stay fairly mild
and dry.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Quiet start to the week for fire weather, with high pressure
across most of the Interior. Some isolated afternoon showers and
thunderstorms are possible southeast of Delta Junction on Tuesday
and Wednesday, but otherwise conditions will be dry and warm with
light winds. Highs will generally be in the 60s or lows 70s for
most areas this week. Relative Humidity values will be in the 20s
and 30s during the day, with fair overnight recovery.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
A Flood Watch is in effect for the Sagavanirktok (Sag) River
through Tuesday afternoon. Rivers are starting to break up north
of the Brooks Range, and an ice jam on the Sag River is causing
the water to rise. Most rivers are running low north of the Brooks
Range according to a recent aerial survey. Anchored ice remains
in the lower ends of some West Coast rivers. For the latest river
information go to www.weather.gov/aprfc.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch for AKZ206.

Small Craft Advisory for PKZ210.
&&

CULVER MAY 21

The office that day

Everything else NWS Fairbanks, AK issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 24, 11:54 AM AKDTFlood WatchAFG21 hr

Nearby

Areal Flood Warnings in Alaska, 2021Every areal flood warning in 2021

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.